13 



Fig. 3. Tripsacum dactyloides L. GAMA GRASS.— a, Two joints of the pistil- 

 late portion of the spike; b, a pistillate spikelet; c, outer glume of same; d, sec- 

 ond glume of same; e, flowering glume and palea showing the long exserted 

 stigmas; /, staminate spikelet. 



3. TRIPSACUM Linn. Syst. Nat. Ed. 10, 2: 1261. 1759. Spikelets unisexual, 

 all sessile; the 2-flowered staminate spikelets geminate along the continuous 

 rachis above; the 1-flowered pistillate spikelets solitary at each joint of the 

 articulate rachis below in the same spicate inflorescence, which terminates the 

 culm or its branches. Glumes 4, awnless, the 2 lower or outer ones in the male 

 spikelet empty and rigid or subcoriaceous, those inclosing the male flowers 

 hyaline; the 1st glume of the female spikelet coriaceous, and at length indu- 

 rated; the 2d rigid; the 3d empty, but hyaline like the 4th, which incloses the 

 female flower. Stamens 3. Styles connate below with long exserted papillose 

 stigmas. Grain ovoid, inclosed within the excavations of the thickened joints 

 of the rachis and covered by the hardened lower glumes, free. Tall, stout, 

 perennial grasses, with abundant and broad lower leaves and strong rootstock. 



Species 3 or 4, in North America. 



